‘Sympathetic Iran’ donates $35m to families affected by COVID-19

TEHRAN – A national campaign called Iran-e Hamdel (literally meaning sympathetic Iran) has collected 1.5 trillion rials (nearly $35 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) to help the financially struggling families affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Learning from each other – Iran’s COVID-19 experiences should be shared: WHO’s Hamelmann

TEHRAN – Iran is benefiting from strengths in fighting against the coronavirus epidemic, including strong primary health care system, production surge in a reasonable time, and multisectoral response, WHO Representative in Iran, Dr. Christoph Hamelmann, said in an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Iran’s social, religious unity ‘a world model for coronavirus response’

TEHRAN – Iran could considerably reduce COVID-19 infections and death toll since the onset of the outbreak, the reason behind which is mainly social and religious unity among Iranians that can be run as a role model anywhere in the world, Alireza Marandi, head of Iran’s Academy of Medical Sciences has said.

WHO provides Iran with 100,000 COVID-19 test kits

TEHRAN – The World Health Organization has delivered 100,000 coronavirus diagnostic kits to Iran, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said, ISNA reported on Saturday.

ICRC lauds Iran’s significant measures in fight against coronavirus

TEHRAN – Barbara Rizzoli, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Tehran, has said the actions taken by the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to battle COVID-19 outbreak were very significant in various fields, including prevention and treatment.

WHO launches “Save Lives: Clean your hands” campaign to slow COVID-19 spread

TEHRAN – The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a campaign, calling upon policymakers to provide the necessary infrastructure to allow people to electively perform hand hygiene in public places in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Coronavirus brought healthcare reforms into sharp focus

TEHRAN – The coronavirus outbreak proved that one-dimensional health systems cannot survive from health-threatening crises, which occur every few years in the form of infectious diseases, a mere view of treatment is not enough, so that the need for healthcare reforms should be brought into sharp focus.

By Salman Parviz

Oil producers dig into savings amid fiscal deficits

Crude demand stymied by lockdowns due to Covid-19 outbreak

TEHRAN- Today many of the world’s major cities remain under lockdowns while their respective government is implementing work-from-home schemes. This has dramatically reduced the number of cars on the streets and cut the demand from the transportation sector. With WTI hovering around $10 and Brent on $20 a barrel, oil-producing nations are feeling the pinch. 

Guterres thanks Muslims who ‘live by their faith’ as Ramadan approaches

TEHRAN – The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in a message appreciated Muslims who ‘live by their faith’ as activities during the holy month of Ramadan are affected by measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Why corona lockdown did not bring Tehran cleaner air?

TEHRAN – Many cities around the world have enjoyed cleaner air since restrictive measures were applied due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, Tehran, being hit by nitrogen oxides (NOX) pollutants, has experienced less clean air days.

Iranian researchers warn of ‘Covi-Flu’ effect on global economy, sustainable development

TEHRAN – The dangers of co-infection of Covid-19 and influenza A “Covi-Flu” to the global economy and sustainable development is closer and more devastating than it might look, according to an essay by Iranian researchers published by British Medical Journal.

AFC Champions League to go ahead: Windsor John

TEHRAN - Windsor John, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), said that the confederation is determined for the AFC Champions League to go ahead.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

How Iran could curb COVID-19 despite sanctions, restrictions?

TEHRAN – Since the first case of coronavirus was identified in Iran, the country has taken extensive measures to curb the spread of the disease, so that daily death toll has been declining over the past few days, unlike some other countries around the world which are still grappling with high casualties and infection.

By Salman Parviz

Theories on origins of COVID-19 disease

WHO figure for April 13: 213 countries, 1,878,489 cases, 119,044 deaths

There are many theories about the exact origins of the novel coronavirus, designated “nCoV-2019” by World Health Organization or commonly referred to as COVID-19 disease, also called SARS-CoV-2 because it is related to SARS pathogen. Theories about the missing link for transmission of the new coronavirus from bats to humans abound.

League of Historical Cities concerned over Iran sanctions amid COVID-19

TEHRAN – Daisako Kadokava, Kyoto mayor and the president of League of Historical Cities, has expressed concern over U.S. sanctions against Iran amid dealing with the coronavirus epidemic.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Knowledge-based companies pushing for ‘surge in production’

TEHRAN – Iran has developed plans to support and empower knowledge-based companies as a step forward to materialize the goal of a surge in production, as the economy is grappling with the coronavirus predicament.

IRCS receives public donations of $14m to contain coronavirus

TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent Society has so far collected non-cash public donations worth 376 billion rials (nearly $9 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) to counter COVID-19 pandemic in the country, IRCS head Karim Hemmati has announced.

Coronavirus: Iran confirms 71,686 infections, 4,474 deaths

TEHRAN- The total number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus in Iran has reached 71,686 of whom 4,474 have died and 43,894 recovered.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

World Health Day: dedicated medics on frontline fighting the invisible enemy

TEHRAN – This time, medical professionals have gone far to help patients afflicted by the coronavirus, so the least we can do is supporting them and paying tribute to those putting themselves at risk battling against a dangerous enemy which is not even visible.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Iranian startups in full swing to combat COVID-19

TEHRAN – Since the onset of the coronavirus epidemic, startups, as well as knowledge-based companies, have been working round the clock to provide items to combat the outbreak.

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

Iran starts clinical trial on effectiveness of coronavirus drug

TEHRAN — Iranian medical authorities have agreed on carrying out a clinical trial on the effectiveness of favipiravir, a drug originally used in Japan for the treatment of new types of influenza.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

COVID-19 crisis: washing hands for 20 seconds, not wasting water for 20 seconds

TEHRAN – These days, it is strictly recommended to wash our hands for 20 seconds as a great step to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but unfortunately many leave the tap running at the same time. This issue poses the greatest threat to the environment.

By Zahra Bahadivand Chegini

COVID-19, an uninvited guest who helped us cherish our planet, family more

The widespread outbreak of the coronavirus has created a new situation in the human world. From political troubles and disputes to the humankind’s potential vulnerability to confront nature, and the increasing importance of science in human life, are part of changes and hints caused by the introduction of the virus into modern human life.

Iran’s fight against COVID-19 to improve noticeably in coming days: health minister

TEHRAN – As more new cases of the coronavirus infection are identified in the country, those undergone treatments will improve and Iran’s situation in fight against the pandemic will improve noticeably in coming days, Health Minister Saeed Namaki has announced.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Nature Day manifests national empathy against coronavirus

TEHRAN – Nature Day was another manifestation of empathy of the Iranian nation in fight against the coronavirus, as people stayed home, despite their thousand-year-old tradition.

President urges people to stay at home

Iran will definitely defeat coronavirus: Rouhani

TEHRAN - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that his country's vast medical capacities coupled with national endeavor will certainly root out the COVID-19, urging people to avoid unnecessary trips in the upcoming New Year holidays.  

By Masoud Hossein

Football to be missed by fans

TEHRAN – Football leagues are being cancelled one after another due to Covid-19 outbreak and it’s not easy to believe for a football fan who enthusiastically waits for weekend to watch his favorite team’s match. It’s chaotic.

Iranian-made medicine raises hope to treat severe cases of COVID-19

TEHRAN – The Iranian health ministry has announced that testing a domestically-made medicine has resulted in improvement of symptoms in severe cases of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

Iran fully prepared to contain coronavirus outbreak: WHO

TEHRAN – Richard Brennan, the Regional Emergency Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region, has said Iran is fully prepared to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak.

China delivers third batch of COVID-19 aid to Iran

TEHRAN – China has sent the third consignment of aid to Iran in order to help fight coronavirus, ISNA news agency reported on Monday.